Spring connection



July 7,1925. 1,545,299

' J. ABREY SPRING CONNECTION Fild Mai 23, 1919 Patented July 7, 1925.

vUNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ABBEY, OF BBOOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPRING CONNECTION. n

Appiication flied May 23, 1919. serial No. 299,158.

.To aZZ whom it may concern: n Be it known that I, JOHN ABRELasubject of the King of Grreat Britain, and resiydent of Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement-in Spring Connections, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automobiles and j the likey and has more particular reference to a spring-hanger or connection vby which 'the automobile spring is connected to the j frame of the machine, or equivalent.

In the usual-type of spring, as forinstance, the semi-elliptic front axle spring,-

the forward end or eye thereof is received between the depending side-portions of the spring horn vsecured to the automobile frame and heldV in place by a spring-supporting bolt passing through such side-portions and vthe end of the spring. The spring connect-ion with other types l of springs and other locations thereof isidentical in principle.

The end of the spring is adapted tobe so snugly received between said side-portionsl as to prevent anyA side-movement of fthe spring of the car, although the spring is free 4to oscillate upon its bolt.

While the snug fit of the spring between the side-members may obtain when the car is new, as the car isused wear`takesplace therebetween, sothat the spring is permitted to slide on its boltbetweensaid side-por-v tions, and this wea-r andthe permitted sliding motion is usually considerable or soon -becomes so. j 1 v y Serious results followfromthis. side-play of the spring. When the car turnsv a corner -or suddenly deviates from its `course such ide-play causes a most disagreeable side swing or slap of the car Wto., occur. Springs also, and frequently, become broken, aswell as othercomponents of the .running -gearof the vehicle. y

The usual manner-of taking up this. play betweenthe spring and its end connections,

or equivalent, is by inserting shims or washers of the requisite thickness between a yface of the spring and the 4side-portions of the .spring hanger or connection.` This .is .a

fditticult procedure because of the relatively small4 clearance between the spring and sidemembers, and the usual warped and thereby dis-aligned condition of the' springs. Un-

v less shims ofthickness vsuillcient to take up practicallyall of the 4side-playv are,used,

rapid wear occurs and the taking-up process ymust be again performed; and, in any event,

theshims must be periodically increased in thickness. y t

The object of my invention is the provi'- sion of an adjustable spring-hanger or connection in which wear between it and the spring and which resultsin side-play of the i spring. may beeasily and positively taken up as developed, bya simple adjustment;

and the hanger or connection `in which my laxle and spring yconnection with the frame of an. automobile, incorporated in my invention. y y y Fig. 2- is a sectional elevation along line 2.-2 of Fig.V 1, illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention. l A Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate modified forms of my invention.

. Fig. 5 illustrates my invention asl applied to the connection between a spring and a s.

tubular rear aXle of, an automobile.

-Fig. 6 is a face viewof the adjustable bushing. y

Fig. 7 is a. detail of the connection of Fig. 5.a`long lines 7-`-7 of Fig. 5.

As here shown, my invention is applied to thev connection between. the'l front and semi-ellipticY springrl()` and the frame or horn 11of an automobile.'v The connection includes a member'12 riveted or otherwise se- 4cured to the frame or` horn 11 having two extended or depending, spaced-apart sideportions 13 4and 132 `between which the spring is v4received and krotatably supported by the spring-supporting bolt 14.

In thev preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 2,.tli e.spring.10 issupported on the bolt 14 relative to which it is permitted the. usual slight amount of Said bolt is extendedV angular movement. .I through the side-portions 13 and 131 of the connection and in roneof said Side-portions, as 13a, is a driving lit, for whichpurpose saidbolt, near the head thereof, is formed- With a pluralityv of longitudinalridges 14 terial .or So treated as to resist wear.

which, in the application of the bolt to the connection, are forcibly driven into the material composing the side-portion 13'Z1 around the bolt opening therein, as `is common practice.

The space between the side-portions 113 and 13a is made somewhatgreater than the width of the spring 10 at'its eye-portion, which is received between said .side-portions, for .the purpose of receiving Vthe ,adjusting member Aby which vthe .wear which results in the objectionable side-play of the spring may .be .up as developed.

.The `adjusting lmember comprises the .bushing 15 having an opening 16 therein .through .which the springsupporting bolt 14 is extended,'and an .exteriorly threadedl{9. 01tgi-o-n.11.7 which is received in the threaded opening. 18 ofV the side-portion 13 ,of the spring hanger oreonneetion.

Saidbushing 15 extends into the spring- `receiving space of the hanger .or vconnection fand terminates in a lradially-extended flange-portion 1.9 having a spring-engageable face 1 9? against which the side ,of the spring is vadapted .to .contact to be thereby A restrained against siderpjlay .on vthe vbolt 14. The spring-engageable face 19L is adapted `to have relatively great bearing surface to the better resist wear,and the bushing, or ,that .porion thereof having said face' 19a, may be made of suitable wear-resisting ma- The Aiange 19 ,extends beyond-the spr-ing 10 and terminates in a peripheral portion having l ,reeesses or `hatches 20 which the bushing may be conveniently rotated in the .sideportionl to thereby move it'ax-ially-on the boltr 14A .to take up vthe wear between the vspring and .the connection.

7Said bushing 15 extends beyond the outside of the side-portion 13 of the connection and a check-nut 21 threaded thereon and Yengageable with the .outer faceof said .sideportion serves'tO lockthe bushing, or adjust- I able Component of .the connection, in any vvadjusted position.

The spring-supporting bolt` 14 extends i beyond saidfbushingand terminates in a threaded portion on which the castellated nut 22 is received by which` the bolt 14 is retained in. place in the connection. Said .check-nut 21 yis adapted to extend beyond ci i the end of said bushing 15 and the nut 22 is adapted to engage therewith whereby to lock said checknut 2l and castellated nut 22 to the side-portion of theV connection.

Y The .castellated `nnt 22 may be locked to said bolt 14 by the usual cotterpin 28. j

1 In the Vmodification illustrated in FigjB, lthe adjustable component ofthe connection comprises the bushing 31 which .extends through the side-portion 13 from the outside and has an .enlarged outside portion 31 by which it may besuitably engaged to be rota/ted within said side-pontion ,to take up theside-play of the spring. f

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4.`

' thespring-supporting bolt 14 is formed with .the spring.

1n ,5 l have illustrated my invention .as applied. to the .connohon between a .spring andthe rearaxle of the automobile. The

spring 10 ris.supported on a saddle'4@ which is angularly'movable on the tubular housing asv 41 of the rear axle. In this case, the rear f .axle .comprises `the connection. A collar 42 is fixed about. said housing 4.1 ohsrisoahfle..

with the ,Saddle 4Q `and comprises a side-portion oi' the `ooiineotoh,- .Anf oxterioiflythreaded 4collar .or sleeve 4 3 vis secured to `said housing 41.0111 thoothoisdo ofsad .Saddle 4.0-

An interiorly-threaded ring 44 having -a sad- 011e- @herring-engaging .fhoo 44a adiostahiy threaded oh Said 'collar .or sleeve 43- The spring is restrained on said housing between the `Collar 4.2 and ring 44 and Wear hotWoe-ii Said Spring and the ooiioootoii .may ootakon- .op by' .tho .adjustment of .Said uns@ 0.11 its" 'Sleeve 43,. .Said .rios may .be looked iii, Piaoo by any suitable means, as by pins 46 :passed through registering opohiiig in .Said ring and .Sleeve It is obvious that wear occurring between v the spring and the connection ymay 'be taken up 'hyqiotating .the adjusting member to move its spring-engaging face nearer the other side-portion of the connection.

Various lother modifications of my invention maybe made without departing ;l'from the spiritof my invention.

1. The lcombination of a spring having an eye, a fixed supporting member to which the spring lis .to be connected, said supporting member yhaving projections formed f with holes therein orthe reception of .a bolt, means to support said spr-ing comprising a round bolt passed through' the 'holes in said supporting member and ythrough the eye in said spring and constructed and arranged eto. engage the inner :tace vof ,said .eye throughout its extent'and support it while permitting it to move Aaxia-llyin supporting engagement with said bol-t, means tot-ix said bolt in said supporting member against rotation, and means to 'support said vspring against axial movement along said body comprising a.`

bus-hing disposejdvover said bolt and received @ne Vof V.thefholes ofsaid tixed supporting Y member and having a screw-threaded conneotion with said supporting member whereby it may be moved toward said spring eye, said bushing having a flat inner end extended toward said spring eye to engage and hold it against axial movement without afeeting the bearing engagement between said spring eye and bolt.

2. The combination of a movable member having an eye, a lixed supporting member to which the movable member is to to be connected, said supporting member having projections formed with holes therein for the reception of a bolt, means to support said movable member'oomprising a round bolt passed through the holes in said supporting member and through the eye in said movable member and constructed and arranged to engage the inner face of said eye throughout its extent and support it While permitting it to move axially in supporting engagement j with said bolt, means tonfix said bolt in said supporting member against. rotation, and means to support said movable member against axial movement along said body comprising a bushing disposed over said bolt and roeived in one of the holes of said xed support-ing member and having a` screwthreaded connection with said su porting member whereby it may be move toward the eye of said movable member, said bush-- ing having a-iat inner end extended toward said eye to engage and hold it against axial movement Without affecting the bearing engagement between' said eye and bolt.`

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the ypresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN ABBEY. Witnesses:

' TL T. GREENWOOD,

H. B. DAVIS. 

